A game that will leave fans flat, but surprise new-commers and will keep them involved for hours on end, like me.

User Rating: 9.5 | Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising GBA
By _Burly_ | Review Date:
If you've already experienced Advance Wars, it's safe to say you'll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you haven't already experienced this amazing title, it will out right consume your time until nothing is left. Advance Wars is really not even a strategy game what so ever, it's really a dumbed down RTS, that isn't real time, and that focuses on your skills to construct and move your army through various situations. There are plenty of missions that can be very witty at times, and every so often they might feel like repeats, but overall there are plenty of varying missions that will provide you with different kinds of objectives rather than having you kill your opponent all the time. The story really isn't worth following most of the time though, it really has the most corny script I've read to date, but it's only really there to give a reason for missions, and most of the reasons seem believable in the Advance Wars world, the script is just too kiddie to be taken seriously 99.9% of the time.

If you emphasize on charging your way through intricate battles, your sure to miss the game play that the Advance Wars series has to offer, all battles will be played out by watching the both unit's squads that entered the battle, square off with each other, unleashing their attack, only based on the situation; some units can't attack other units (tanks can't attack bombers for instance). In Black Hole Rising and its predecessor, you'll be shown how much percentage your units will take from the enemies' units, if this feature was excluded, that would otherwise render this title a disaster, since it is imperative that you know exactly how each ground vehicle, soldier, ship, or air unit will match up against the opposition based on their weaknesses and strengths, along with how much health (your vehicles/people in that certain squad) your units have.

The graphics of Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising is not pushing the GBA, but they are pretty amazing considering everything that's been shoved into this game, the battling graphics are really the main attraction for Black Hole Rising. The sound executes a quite happy feel most of the time, even when the serious music comes on, you can't help but feeling light hearted over the games' bright colored landscapes.

The shop is what adds much replay value to Black Hole Rising. You'll be able to buy maps (140 extra maps in all), buy alternate color schemes for players, as well as buy players to use in the regular game, and a couple extra secret things too. There are actually almost 200 maps packed into this entire title, and you can create your own levels too, though only 2 can be saved at a time. The campaign mode will have a slew of missions, but when hard mode is unlocked, there will be a whole new set of campaign maps with more different kinds of objectives and situations.

The Advance Wars series shouldn't be missed by anyone, Black Hole Rising is a small update of the original, but will leave new fans with great memories and warm feelings of nostalgia.

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